Driving control for axminster looms



Dec. 7, 1948.

Filed May 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet -1 FIGJO 8 INVENTORS GLARE/VOE R. KRONOFF woron E SEPA won ATTORNEY c. R. KRONOFF ET AL 2,455,504 DRIVING CONTROL FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS C. R. KRONOFF ETAL DRIVING CONTROL FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Dec. 7, 1948 5 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1947 F F w m mx N. n

M A a VICTOR F. SEPAV/OH ATTORNEY' Dec. 7, 1948. c. R. KRONOFF ETAL 2,455,504

DRIVING CONTROL FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed May 1, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE NTORS CLARENCE" R. KHQ/VOFF VICTOR F. SEPA VIC/l 1":- n i I.

ATTOR N EY Patented Dec. 7, 1948 nmvmooonmon FORAXMI'NSTER L'OOMS Clarence R5 Kronofi'f.

and Victor F; Sepavich;

Worcester, Mass. assignors to Crompton &

Knowles Loom Works, Worcester;

M3581, a conporation of- Massachusetts-* Application May 1;1947, Serial No. 745,350 8 Claims.- (Cl. 139-'-1) It; This inventionrelatesi-to' Axzninster looms and y it is thergeneral: object of. the invention to improve the shippingzand speedlcontrol meehanism shown i in ourcopendingxapplication *Ser. No. 6899105; filed Augusta;v 1946.4

Axminster loomsordinaril-y operate with'a weft laying. needle locatedcatione sideof the loom and cooperating with a Weft tension/arm which in some instances is several flfeet from th'e shipper mechanism: Whenever the weft' breaks it is customary for. the weaver and then start theloom while holding thethread.

This operation'issinconvenie'nt with'the structure shown in-the aforesaid application because of the 1 distance between the shipper mechanismand the tension. arm,: particularly I when applied towide 1ooms, and'it'is an important objectof the present invention to: provide means by which the shipper bar. can be operated from" a-position' near the wefttension arm;

In the aforesaid application provision is made for stopping the loommotor by'any one of 'several stop motionsonthe loom, and'when the 10cm stopsthe shipper start the loomwill permit 'smcalled jogging orinching. This additional "movement is against the actionof a springwhi'ch immediately'returns the shipper handle to its normal running position when released by the weaver.

Theaforesaid application: sets forth a' torq'ue bar. square in .cross section for connecting the shipper bar: to the variableresistances which control motor speed, but this bar is expensive and requires close fitting. It is anotherobject of the present invention to simplify the constructionxof. this barso that it may bemade-morecheaply "and" not-require accurate alignment with the axis ofxthe shipper bar.

It is also'desirable to protect'the sweep arms-- of the resistance devices against 1 excess motion when; the shipper bar is turned rapidly'to effect a change inmotorzspeed: Itiis stillanother object of the present invention to' provide anstoppperatingpreferablyg'inv connection with the aforesaid 2 torque, bar: to: :limit angular t'movementnv-thereofs and thus-protect the .-sweepi.arms.

to rethread the weft from i the stationary.supply through the tension armbar remains in its running posi tion.v It may vbe that correction- 0f the fault'which" causes stopping will involve momentary running 2 With 1 these: and"? other i Fig. 1 Li's a:

thereto,

Figiiz isxan enlarged =side elevation-of thesforward part of the loom: showingithe. shipper moch anism in runningposition', parts, such as -the needlemotion; being'omitted, j'

Figrs3 is an'enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 ofiFigg. 2;

Fi'gsml; .5 and 13 Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sections of the motor controlling; resistances-won lines 1- --1 and 8 8; respectively; of Fig. 3,

Fig.9 sis:.adiagrammatic view 'sh'owing 'a weft; tension arm'v and :the relation which it sustains. to'the stationary: weft supply; thiweft needle;

and thezfabrim:

Fig. 10 is a front View tending across" the. loom looking; in the direction of arrow lflg'fFig. 2,'and' Fig; 1 l is a .dia'grammaticyiew ShOWiIlg'je1EGtrlG'- circuits employed with the invention.

Referring .particularly:to Figs. -1 and 2, iarlooma lsupplyihgiwarprr W'which-passes through harness framesnlZ. electric; warp stopmotiori D acts-:to openswitch': Aflay 3 has reed l4 *through which the 'warp. passes and :by. which the weft 'is beaten up afterkbeing; laid bya weft "needle-l 5, see Fig. 9: The'overh'ead mechanism lfi includes a tubeframe transportings. chain "I"! to :which are :detachabh' connected a seriesrof tube'frames l8: Atransferarm-".l9is

provided at" eachend of the-loom for-the purpose of disconnecting; the tube frames one ata time from the chain l1 and movingthem-do'wn to tuft After the tuftsihave' been formed in the fabric Cthe' tube frame fe -raised: a short "distanceaiidthetuftsxare cut byrnieans; of front and back k nives'orpi-le-cutters20and 21,

:t-ube frame is -.theri 'cretui iied toxtheschaili'aand t A e latter is advanced to bi'ing. the next tube' frame fintotransfer I position? by? means 'of feed mechanism ZZ-Which rocksxa pull 23: All of itheesx-par'ts. vibrate more: or less' dttring gloom operation; as set. forth more frame"! U supports .warpbeams: I

WSyFi; 11, whenazwarp thread tbreaks.

formingtt position.

respectively. The

over ashaft;

fully :in the aioresaidzapplicatiori;

objects in -view which? will appear assth'e ridesc'ription' proceedslaourxih I ventionr resides intthe combination and tar-range: merit-of partsvhereinafter-described and-set forth; In.:the accompanying drawings, wherein a con venient embodiment of our invention isset forth;

diagrammatic side elevation of an Axminster loom having our invention applied are vertical sections on *lines of the shipper: hart-exadirect current shunt wound motor M geared directly to the bottom shaft 25 by a pinion 26 and a gear 21. In the present instance only one cam 28 is shown on shaft 25, namely, the one for operating the lay. It is to be understood, however, that other cams operate the tuft cutting knives 20 and 2|, the transferrer arms [9, the chain advancing mechanisms 22, as well as other parts of the loom not specifically set forth herein. The

loom operates whenever usual clutch is omitted.

The weft needle I5 is generally operated by a mechanism not shown located at one side of the loom and deriving its power from shaft 25. The weft system includes a tension arm 29 for the weft or filling A drawn from a stationary weft package P.

The motor is controlled by a shipper bar 35, see Fig. 10, the left end of which is guided in a slide bearing 36 secured to the loom frame. The right end of bar 35is connected to a mechanism designated generally at 31, see Figs. 3 to 6, including a bearing 38 secured as at 39 to the loom frame. The bearing 38 has a bore 40 in which is slidably mounted a short cylinder 4| threaded at 42 to a longer cylinder 43 the right end of which slides in bearing 44 of less diameter than bore 40, see Fig. 3.

Rotatable within the cylinder 43 is a still smaller cylinder or sleeve 45 the left end of which projects beyond the cylinder 43 and has a collar 46 secured thereto by a pin 41. The latter passes through a plug 48 within sleeve 45 the left end of which is connected as indicated in Fig. 10 to shipper bar 35. A key 50 prevents angular movement of cylinder 43 withrespect to the bearing 38 but allows it to slide longitudinally in bearing 44.

The right end of cylinder 43 is keyed as at 5| the motor runs, andthe to a collar 52 in which is threadedan adjusting screw 53which forces a spring 54 against a lock plunger 55. The plunger cooperates with a notched locked wheel 56 having a hollow hub 51 secured to sleeve 45 in any approved manner, asby welding.

A stationary housing 50 secured to switch box GI contains resistances designated at RA and RF to control the armature and field coil, respectively, of themotor- A stub shaft 62 is rotatable on housing 60 and has secured thereto but insulated therefrom sweep arm 63 of unit RA, see Fig. '7, to engage a resistor element 64 mounted onv a disk 65 made of insulating material and fixed to housing 60. The lower part of element 64 is the variable resistance part thereof and is connected to wire 66. The upper part of element 64 is aconductor and is connected to wire 61. An arcuate conductor 88 on disk 65 engages the tail B9 of arm 63 and is connected to wire 10.

In similar manner, uni RF has an arm ll operated by stub shaft 62 and a resistor element "inverted relatively to element 64. Wires 13, I4 and 15 lead from unit RF. A torque bar 16 to be described in detail hereinafter turns with sleeve 45 and is connected to stub shaft 62 to permit turning of sweep arms 63 and H by angular movement of shipper bar'35.

With both arms 63 and H in their lower right hand positions all the armature resistance between wires 66 and I is cut out, and all the field resistance between wires 14 and I is cut in. Under these conditions the motor runs at a maximum speed. As the arms turn in a clockwise direction, Figs. 7 and 8, due to a similar motion of the shipper bar 35, the resistance between 4 wires 66 and 10 increases to reduce armature current, but the field resistance remains unchanged. When the arms reach the position shown in Figs. '7 and 8 maximum armature resistance is effective as well as maximum field resistance; and themotor runs at a reduced or intermediate speed. Further clockwise turning of the arms leaves the armature resistance unchanged, but there will be a reduction in the field resistance with further reduction in the motor speed. When the arms reach their extreme upper right position all the armature resistance will be in and all of the field resistance will be out, and the motor will be running at its slowest speed. j

The bearing 38 has threaded thereinto a screw which holds a spring 8i against a ball lock 82. The latter can enter one or the other of two lock notches 83 and 84 in cylinder 43 to hold the latter and sleeve 45 yieldingly locked in either the full line or dotted line position of Fig. 3.

A link'85 is pivoted as at 85, Figs. 3 and 4, to collar 52 and extends to the right to have connection with an arm 81 attached to a small shaft 88 carried by switch box 6 l. The latter contains a switch 89, see Fig. 11, which will be open when link is to the left; full lines Fig. 3, but will be closed when the link is in the right hand position indicated in dotted lines.

. The lower left hand part of Figs. 1 and 2 show a cabinet or box 90 which contains the electric devices for changing the speed of the motor when the shipper bar 35 is moved angularly. These devices of themselves form nopart of our present invention, but are under control of the resistances RA and RF. A cable 9| runs from the cabinetto the motor M andwillordinarily contain wires'leading to the motor armature and its field coil. A second cable 92 leads from cabinet 90 andhaswires93 and 94 leading to the switch 89, and also the wires connected to the resistances RA and RF. Stop .motion switches WS and FS are inseries with wires 95 and 96 and are normally closed to permit completion of the motor circuit when switch 89 is closed. If either stop'motion switch. opens the motor stops with the shipperbar remaining in its angular posiion. 5

When it is desired to stop'the loom the shipper bar 35 will be moved to the left to return the parts on bearing 38.,to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 the effect of which will be to open switch 89 to stop the motor. This movement of the shipper bar to the left does not disturb the setting of the resistances RA and RF, since these settings are held by the lock wheel 56, and the loom can therefore be restarted at its former speed.

Except for certain changes which will be pointed out hereinafter, such as cylinder 4|, the matter thus far described may be substantially the same as that set forth in our aforesaid pending application.

Our present invention relates to an auxiliary handle by which-the shipper bar may be moved when the weaver is near the weft tension arm 29, a jogging switch torcauserunning of the motor when the loom has been stopped by a stop motion switch, improvements relative to the previously mentioned bar 16, and a stop to protect the sweep,arms 63 and 'H of. the resistances.

In carrying the first feature of the invention into effect we. provide a rod lflll'pivoted as at llll to the collar 52 and'provide the right end of it as viewed in Fig. 3'with' a handle 102. This ha'n 5 die may be guided in a housing I03 secured to or at least fixed with respect to the bearing 30 and switch box 6 I. The rod I is made of such length that the handle I02 will be readily accessible to the weaver when he is standing in front of the Weft tension arm 29 and holding a weft thread incident to repair of a weft break. Since collar 1 52 is keyed to the cylinder 43 and the latter in turn is keyed at 50 to the bearing 38, an endwise pull to the right, Fig. 3, on handle I02 will not change the angular setting of the sweep arms and the weaver can resume weaving after having mended the broken weft thread without a change in motor speed. Handle I02 is not connected directly to the shipper bar 35 or sleeve 45, and therefore does not interfere with their turning.

The second feature of the invention includes an electric switch I having an arm I06 positioned fo rengagement with collar 52. Ordinarily, arm I06 will not be engaged by collar 52 when the loom is running, but if for any reason the loom should be stopped by one or another of its stop motions there will be an electric break in the connections between wires 05 and 95, Fig. 11, by opening of one or another of the stop switches. This stopping of the loom will occur with the shipper bar in its right hand position, where it will remain with lock ball 82 in pocket 83. If the weaver desires to jog or inch the loom incident to repair of a thread breakage he will give the shipper bar an additional movement to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby closing switch I05. It will be apparent from Fig. 11 that this results in electric connection of wires 95 and 96 which will cause the motor to run. Obviously, pulling on handle I02 will have the same effect.

It is desirable that the shipper bar 35 return to its normal running position after a jogging operation, and we insure this result by means of a compression spring II 0 surrounding a small sleeve I I I on cylinder 43. The left end of this spring as viewed in Fig. 3 will normally bear against the cylinder II, while its right end bears against a flange II2 on sleeve III to move the latter against a shoulder II3 on cylinder 53.

When the shipper bar is in normal running position the flange II2 will be close to or in contact with a wall IM between the bores 40 and 24 formed on the bearing 38. There is a slight space between the left end of sleeve III and cylinder II permitting a small amount of endwise movement of cylinder 43 and therefore collar 52 to the right of normal driving position. Such movement places the spring IIO under compression, and as soon as the weaver releases the shipper bar the spring expands to move the cylinder 43 to the left by a force transmitted through collar 48, thereby moving the collar 52 away from arm I05 to permit switch I05 to return to'its normal open position.

The third feature of the invention relates more particularly to the bar I5 which is preferably. of rectangular cross section so that it may possess some flexibility. As shown in Fig. 4, the lock wheel 56 has secured thereto a fitting I I 5 formed with a bore or opening II6 across which extends a. holding plate II'I held in place by set screws I I 8 tapped into lock wheel 56. Plate I I 1 has horizontal slots I is for screws I I8 to permit horizontal adjustment of the plate II1. Plate II I also has a vertical slot I 20 through which the left end of bar I6 extends as viewed in Fig. 3. Rotation of sleeve 45 therefore causes the left end of bar 16 to move angularly.

The right end of the bar 76 has formed therefurther be with acylindrical hub I2I secured to the previouslymentioned stub shaft 62 by a set screw I22. A flange I23- on the hub is located between a plate I24 and a small hollow stand I25 supporting it and fastened to the housing 60." Flange I23 prevents substantial endwise movement of bar 16, but fits loosely between the plate and stand I25.

By reason of the adjustment of plate II! and slot I20, bar 16 need not be set as accurately as isnecessary in the arrangement shown in the aforesaid application, and it is not necessary that the axis of stub shaft 62 coincide with the axis of sleeve 45.

In the fourth feature of the invention a stop lug I21, see Fig. 4, is formed integral with the fitting I I5, and the collar 52 is formed with a stop boss I 28. When the shipper bar is turned the stop lug I21 will turn with it but will engage the boss I28 before the sweep arms 63 and 'II of the resistance units come to the ends of their respective resistance elements. therefore protected and will not be damaged even though the shipper bar be rotated abruptly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a convenient auxiliary handle for the shipper bar accessible from a position adjacent to the weft arm 29 and connected to the shipper bar in such manner as not to cause angular movement of the resistance sweep arms when rod I00 is pulled. This condition is true whether the handle' I02 be pulled for the purpose of starting the loom, or for jogging. When the loom motor is jogged either by the shipper bar or handle I02, spring II 0 will be compressed as switch I 05 is closed, but upon release the spring will move the collar 52 back to its normal running position, and switch I 05 will open. It will also be seen that the jogging switch I05 can be operated with the shipper bar in any of its angular positions. It will seen that the bar 15 is made and mounted in such manner that it can be cheaply constructed and fitted to the sleeve by means affording slight vertical movement relative to the axis of sleeve 45 and also horizontal adjustment. Furthermore, the stop lug I21 serves as a protection for the sweep arms 63 and 'II.

The rotary features for the speed control shown in the foregoing description are not claimed here in but are the subject of a divisional application filed by us on January 24, 1948, Serial No. 4098.

Having thus described our invention itwill be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what we claim is:

1. Inshipper control mechanism for the driving motor of an Axminster loom, fixed bearing means, a member slidable in said means but held against rotation relatively thereto, av cylinder moving longitudinally with and rotatable within the member, a shipper bar operatively connected to the cylinder capable of longitudinal and rotary movements to cause longitudinal and rotary movements of the cylinder, rotary electric speed control means for the motor controlled by the cylinder, and an auxiliary handle connected to the member to cause longitudinal movement of the latter and the shipper bar for any angular position of the cylinder with respect to the member.

2. In shipper control mechanism for the driving motor of an Axminster loom, a stationary bearing, a sliding member capable of longitudinal sliding movement only with respect to the bearing,

These sweep arms are Mamm arotarwmemb era-movable: anglil arly-. withrespect.i toithebearinganomovineloneitudinallyrw mt member; rotary 5' electric motor: speed; control. means:..-oper.atively connectem; to; and 1 running: angniarly with.saidz-rotarttmember are.elongatedu ppenbar. onlone. side or the.-bear-mg ,an 1-ppera-. tively- 3 connected; to-- themembers, and.-.=handle-s means connected to saidsliding :member; and extendingon the ;opposite -si(le. or: said. bearlng; by; sa'd sliding; member; may beamoyedq l0; longitudinally withi respect tothe beari gionany; angular; position: oi -said rotary member andispeeiz control means.

3.. In shipper.-controlmeans forthe (driving motor :ofran vAxminsterrloom, a tationaryl-bearingei 15; a. member. 'slldable, longitudinallyinsaid: hearing-,- but heldagainst-,1 angular movement" relativelythereto a; sleeve: rotatable; within saith member.- andr moving longitudinally therewith, rotary eleeatric. speed controlled means for.- themotor. onerawtively connected; to and turning with thezsleeya a longitudinally anclrotary elongatecl'shipper' bar; on oneside; of thevbearing operatlvely connected-1 to the.- sleeve andvmemben; a collarifixed to. said member, and-handle means connected. to said. col. lar to-movesaid membenand sleeve. longitudinallxi of vthe.-bearing;means for any angular EQSitlGIlgOf-J said: sleeve with respect .to thememberi;

4 In shipper'. control means for. an .Asminstenloom-havinga. clriving motor; and-a :tensiomarm. astationar-y ;b 8.311111%, a memb er-slidable longitudle nallyrinthe 'bearing-ebut' heldagainst. rotation" therein;- a: sleeve rotatable within the membereancle moving longitudinally with the. member,; rotary electric sp eedecontrol means ionthe=motorzopera tively connected; to the sleeve, a. shippen bar on erativelwconneoted "no-the membertto causezlongitudinalmovementsthereofz andoperatlvelm com a neotecl to, the.- sleeve I and: rotating (therewithtandt extendingfrom; said: bearing; .ina: direction away: fromthe tensionarm, and handle. means agar-a. tivelyconnected.- to said member and. extending. in a direction. from thenbearing.towardysaidstene sion, arm; 7 V

5. In shipper control means: for an-Axminstem' loom having a driving motonandca .wettstensiom arm, .alrotaryl and. longitudinallv movable/ shipper barren bearing, intermediate *thelbar andi-theltene r sion. arm,, a member, slidablellongitudinallnin the; bearingbut held against;rotation.relativelythere to, a. second, member moving longitudinallyl iwith thefirstmember andmotatable with respect .to the bearing, said shipperbar connectedtoboth oflsaidi members. anal movine longitudinally iwithbothlof. themuancl. angnlarly with,-the second :member,, rotary electric speed control meansfonthe-moton turning with; the;seconcl,member, amotor -.controlling switch operatlvely connected-to the A first. member,- and handlemeansoperatively connectenl to .the firstmember andextendina-fronr the. latter toward the-tension arm iOwCQU-SE long-itudinaL movement of= both members for. anyangnlan p.051? tion'of thesecond. member relativelytmthe. bearer 1ng..

shipnemcontroll.

mechanism rion-an. .Ax.-.-

minster; loonroperatin @witha .drivingimotor, a.

stationary. bearin -ea member, nally in "the: bearing slidable; longitudie but; held: against. rotation therein, a, sleeve rotatable within the, member al shipper: ban-.operativelyic anmsleeve. to; memherand;

onnectedito. thelmember... causellongltudinal movement. of the rotar-ymovement oi the sleeve,- saidbar ,anm member. capable. of assuming non-rune.

111118, tions rotaryr,

normal, running and abnormalrunningvposie.

electric motor speed. control. means.

operatively;connected-to. and turning, with the. s1eee a motor; eontrollinglelectriclswitch closed whenthe, ban and member.

are inheitherlor. saicL runninggpositionspand ajsecond motor controlling,

SWitGhLClOSEdsbY; thememb enlwhenithe. latteriisi inanabnormalrunning; position onlyand.regardlessofjthe angnlarposiflon .ofi thesleeve'.

'7 ...I-n shipperwmechanism. .102. an. .Axminster loomhaving;

.speedi driving motor, .an. open during normal run-.. ctive when. closed tocause a.. v ariable runningof the.motor.,;rotary electric. speed control meansrfior. thermoto monablezshipper. bar capable. of

r.,,.a rotary. and longitudinally.- assumingnormah andliabnormalrunningpositions, and' meansnopr.

erativelwconnectingthe; bar .to, said. rotary,speed control means .tmcause angnlarmovement of..the,.

latter whenflthe. bar.is,move

d. angularly in either.

ofiisaidrrunningrpositions, and. efiective .whenthe bar visumovede to. said-.abnormaliposition only. to closeasaidrswitch.

8.: In shipper mechanism for. an Axminster loom having,

auvariable;speeclnrivina motor. and

operating-with electriolstop. switches which when closecl permit motor. operation but. which .when.

open. prevent; motor operation, a switch .el'ectrically. in. paralleLwithsaid. stopmeans. effective whenclosedtoloause running. of the motor. whethe ersaid stonel'ectri'c.

means are. opener closed; a.

longitudinally-and rotarily mounted. shipper bar capabletofsassuming normal and abnormaLrunnine posiiions. rotarymotorspeed c ontrol means onerativelyconnectertv-to. the. .bar and turning.

therewith:

whenth. bards either of; said run-.

ningposition ancl rneanseffctivia. when the. ban

monesto abnormalrunning po sai'di'switch.

sition: only to. close,

cinnamon. R; KRQNOFF. vrc'rcm rrsnmvrcrr;

REFERENGES' CITED- Tlaei following;v referencesare of recordwimthe; file .of iithlfii patent:

' UNETED-STATES PATENTS? Number Number. 

